Two plus Three seating in class 150?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From my visit to Cornwall last month - I recall (but didn't get round to reporting) a class 150 carriage with 2+3 seating - whereas my old recollections are of 2+2.   Can someone fill me in ...   Thanks

[WSW Frome]

The 2+3 seats shown seem to be the original type and layout installed in the early versions of 150 sprinters. I did think this was the blunt ended 150/0 series only. Someone else may know better.

[Zoe]

I remember 2+3 in the Wales & West 150/2s, these were converted to 2+2 when they were refurbished by Wessex Trains in 2002/3.

[grahame]

I remember 2+3 in the Wales & West 150/2s, these were converted to 2+2 when they were refurbished by Wessex Trains in 2002/3.

I have looked back at my pictures, and I suspect the carriage with 2 + 3 was part on 150202.  Did it miss the refurb?  Was it a later arrival?

[LiskeardRich]

There is one solitary odd one that has 3+2. I’ve always it originated elsewhere to the rest, or for a route that required 3+2.
It was away for quite some time in 2022 for a major exam and overhaul but came back in the same layout but reupholstered.

[Ralph Ayres]

Maybe I'm slimmer than some but I've never understood the widespread dislike of 2+3 seating on less-prestige routes.  Still room to spread out if lightly loaded but more chance of a seat at all when the train is busy.  Okay, perhaps many trains should be longer so the problem doesn't arise, but that's a different topic!

[Chris from Nailsea]

Yes, please don't send broadgage off on that one again.  Image not available to guests

[Hafren]

There were some of the 150s that don't have gangways (150/0?) transferred from West Mids to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) in the 2010s IIRC^▸ ('if I recall/remember/read correctly'). As they arrived well after the 2+2 refurbs were done they retained 3+2 seating. Not great when they turned up on the CDF^▸ (Cardiff Central station)-PMH^▸ (Portsmouth Harbour station) journeys! I think most/all have left GWR since. Not sure if the remaining one was from that transfer or another one. I think some/all of the West Mids ones came in 3 car formation with /0 vehicles outside and a /1 vehicle in the middle i.e. middle car had gangways at both ends but outer cars didn't.

A couple of Northern 3+2 /1 units were with TfW^▸ (Transport for Wales) temporarily in the last 1-2 years. Unlike the likes of Turbos^▸ (Class 165 and 166 trains used on Thames Valley services) where only the bays are 3+2, the 150s had 3+2 on the face-to-back seats as well, so two people have to move (or be climbed over) if the person in the window seat needs to get up. Comfort is also affected by the 3+2 seats being more bench-like, without armrests (or indeed space for them) and being low-backed - I find these affect the sense of personal space and make it harder to doze. Also the narrower gangways mean less space to stand or move around.

[grahame]

I remember 2+3 in the Wales & West 150/2s, these were converted to 2+2 when they were refurbished by Wessex Trains in 2002/3.

I have looked back at my pictures, and I suspect the carriage with 2 + 3 was part on 150202.  Did it miss the refurb?  Was it a later arrival?

Saw its older sister 150201 earlier today.   Dressed differently, but looked like 2+3 as well.